SHEBOYGAN - A Sheboygan County sheriff’s official said a suspect officers had spent hours searching for on Thursday likely left the area.

The sheriff’s office said it had called off its active search for the suspect — whom officials said was likely armed with a handgun — at about 11:15 a.m. Thursday, about two hours after beginning their search in the town of Wilson.

“We believe, at this point, that somebody picked him up and he is out of the area,” Lt. Jason Liermann said Thursday afternoon.

Officers had identified the suspect — “We know who the party is,” Liermann said — though they weren’t releasing his name to the media.

In a press update, the sheriff’s office noted a reported sighting of the suspect around 1 p.m. near Oostburg turned out to be a false lead.

Officials described the suspect as a 6-foot, 200-pound man with dreadlocks, piercings in both ears and wearing an orange and black shirt and blue jeans.

The sheriff’s office described him as an “alleged suspect” in an abduction case in Manitowoc County, though officials didn't release any more information about what activity the man was wanted for.

Officers began looking for the man after he reportedly ran away from a vehicle near the corner of Sauk Trail and Middle Road, just south of Sheboygan. A second person, the vehicle's driver, was later reportedly apprehended in Ozaukee County, Sheboygan County Sheriff Cory Roeseler said.

Lt. Jim Gottsacker said Thursday morning canines and law enforcement crews had searched for the suspect in fields, farm buildings and forested areas in parts of southeastern Sheboygan County. He said officials had contacted local residents and warned them of the situation.